Dave Smith is the councillor under investigation in South Stormont

David Smith, the newly-elected deputy mayor of South Stormont is the subject of an ethics inquiry.
Todd Hambleton/Cornwall Standard-Freeholder/Postmedia NetworkTodd Hambleton / Todd Hambleton/Standard-Freeholder

SOUTH STORMONT – Multiple sources have told the Standard-Freeholder that the South Stormont councillor that is under investigation is Deputy-Mayor-Elect Dave Smith, the only incumbent candidate to be re-elected during last month’s municipal elections.

People with knowledge of the details complaint came forward on the condition on of anonymity after the Standard-Freeholder publicized the fact that the township had hired a temporary integrity commissioner specifically to investigate an ethics complaint against a member of the township council.

The Freeholder has not been able to ascertain the identity of the complainant, but they are an employee of the township.

The cause of the complaint, as it was explained by a source is as follows:

A few weeks ago, both Smith and the complainant were at a local eating establishment when an argument broke out between them. According to the sources – who were familiar with the complaint but were not present for the confrontation itself – Smith loudly brought up a run-in with the law the complainant had gone through and suggested that they only had their job with the township because of his intervention.

The Standard-Freeholder spoke with Coun. Smith on Tuesday and ran this version of events by him, asking if it was inaccurate in any way. He would not confirm or deny anything, noting that he and others at the municipality have been advised not to comment on the matter.

The complaint that followed was filed by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which also confirmed that it represents the complainant. The union couldn’t go much into the details of the complaint though.

Although she did not name Smith the defendant, CUPE representative Angela Addario did confirm the complainant has received an apology.

“It is one of our members, and an apology has been received at this point. That’s just about all I can tell you … because this thing is still in process,” she said.